Cover plate for vehicle wheels



COVR PLATE `FOR VEHICLE WHEELS vFiled May 9, 1932 3 sneu-sheet.;

COVER PLATE FOR VEHICLEKWHEELS Filed May 9, 1932 n 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 8, 1935` i fcovEarLATE ron vEmcLE WHEEL Charles W. Sinclair, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesnc assignments, to The Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Company, Detroit, Mich., a. corporationv Application Maya 1932, ,serial No. 610,216` 9 claims. (creol- 37) This invention relates generally to vehicle wheels and refers more particularly to cover plates for vehicle wheels. l y

` While the desirability of'providing cover plates. `5 for vehicle wheelshas been recognized by the trade for some time, neverthelesathe same have not achieved general recognitiondue to the fact that prior devices intended for this purpose were usually impractical from a 4commercial standf` point. The` impracticability of'priordevices may be attributed to a large extent to the diiliculty heretofore encountered in manufacturing, the cover plates for areasonable cost and in effectively attaching the` plates to vehicle wheels so that `the same not only`form a rigid part of `the wheels during use, but alsoserve to enhance the general appearance of the latter. y,

` The presentinvention contemplateseliminating the .foregoing diiilculties by 'providing` cover plates capable of being readily andinexpensively manufactured and byproviding improved ymeans, for quickly detachably securing the cover plates to vehicle wheels under compression so as to obtain maximum rigidity. I

A further advantageous feature of this inven-V tion residesin the novelmeans provided herein for cushioning the `cover plates so asto prevent any tendency for `the same to crack or buckle ,during use. The foregoing as well as otherobjects will bemade more apparent as this description proceeds, especially whenconside'redin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: I l

Figure 1 is a 4fragmentary cross sectional view through a vehiclewheel illustrating one of my improved forms of cover `plates in assembled rela-k tion with the wheel;l n

Figures 2 to `8, inclusive, are views similar to Figure 1, each showing a modified form `of construction; I ligure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a still further modification of the present invention;

Figure l0 is a sectional Vview taken substantially on the line Ill-I0 of Figure 9.l Although the several cover plates and attaching means therefor forming the subject matter of this invention may be employedin associationwith various types of vehicle wheels, nevertheless, I have shown the same herein for the purpose of illustration as employed `in connection. with ve hicle wire wheels` having drop centerlrims. In the interest of simplicity,each ofthe illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in sembled relation with wire wheels identical in construction having a hub shell III and a drop center rim I I concentrlcally arranged withrespect to the hub shell and connected thereto by means of the front and rear sets of spokes I2'and I3, respectively. The hub shells I 0 of the vehicle wheels illustrated inthe several views are preferably `oi! conventional design in that they are provided with4 av barrel portion I4 terminating at the front end thereof in aninwardly extending flange I5 form ing the noseof the shell and provided at 'the rear 5 ends thereof with enlarged spoke attaching por-r tions IG. The drop center rims' Il of the wheels are also shown as constructed in accordance with theusual practice in that they are 'formed with substantially channel-shapedbase 'portions l1 10 terminatngiat the outer ends thereof `in radially `extending tire retaining flanges I8.

l ltcferring` now more in detail to the specific embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, it"`will be noted that the reference character I9 l5 designates a cover plate for the wheel fashioned for attachment to the front side of the latter for concealing portions of the same. The cover plate I9 comprises essentially adisk 20 formed of relatively light `gauge stock suitably fashioned to im- 20 part anl ornamental appearance to the wheel when attached to the latter and having` a central portion 2| designed `to serve` the purpose of .the usual vehicle wheel hub cap. The peripheral portions of thevdisk 20 are bent rearwardly as `at 22 and co- 25 operate with suitable retainers 23 for securing a yieldable ring 24 to the inner surface of thecover plateadjacent the periphery thereof. The retainers 23 are preferably welded or otherwise suitably` secured to the rear faceof the disk l20 and 30 the outer ends thereof are bent rearwardly so as to cooperate with the portions 22 in holding the resilientring 24 inA assembled relation with the cover plate. The ring'24 is preferably formed of rubber and is compressed againstthe front side` of 35 the rim Il by means of suitable fastener elements 25 having head portions accessible from the front side of vthe wheel and having threaded shank portions extending through suitable openings formed in the cover plate and threadedly engaging the.40 hub shell `nose I5. In order to eliminate squeaks or other objectionable noises in the wheel, suitable rubber or other non-metallic washers 26 are interposed between the cover plate and adjacent portions of rthe hub shell nose I5. While it willbe `apparent from the following description that the peripheral portions `of the cover plate may be fashioned to engage different p0rtions of the front side of the vehicle rim members, nevertheless, in the embodiment of the in- 50 vention illustrated in Figure 1, the resilient ring 24 on the cover plate I9 is shown as engaging the front tire retainingiiange II!l adjacent `the periphery of the latter. By reason of the above construction, the cover plate' not Vonly serves to con- 55 ceal the hub shell and spokes ofthe wheel, but also functions to substantially conceal thedrop centerrim. Moreover, in view ofthe fact that the cover plate I9 also forms thevusual hub cap; for the hub shell of the wheel, it will be `apparent o that the same renders it possible to eliminate separate hub cap constructions, and, as a con-` sequence, materially reduces the cost of manufacture.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 2, the

' cover plate 28 does not form the hub cap for the opening in the hub shell nose and a resilient ring- 29 is secured to the peripheral portions o-f the cover plate in the same manner as the ring 24 is Asecured to the cover plate I9. The resilient ring 29 is secured under compression to the front side of the vtire retaining flange I8' adjacent the periphery of the latter by means of amounting ring 30 welded or otherwise suitably secured' to the rear side of the coverplate and having the inner portions thereof positioned adjacent the front side of thejhub shell nose I5. The inner portions of the cover plate adjacent the ring 30 are flared outwardly as at 3| -and are apertured as at `32 for receiving the fastener elements 33. The fastener elements 33 are preferably in the form of screws having head portions located within thespace between the mounting ring and adjacent portions of the cover plate and having shank portions threadedly engaging the hub shell nose. In the construction shown in Figure 2, the hub cap 35for the wheel cooperates with the cover plate to enhance the general appearance of the wheel. As shown, the hub cap is provided with a peripheral portion 35 fashioned to conceal the openings 32 throughthe cover plate 28 when the same is in assembled relation with the wheel and having a reduced annular pilot 31 of suilicient cliameter to project through the aligned openings in the hub shell nose and cover plate. In this connection, it is to be noted that the cover plate in the present instance functions todetachably secure the hub cap-in assembled relation with the wheel and for accomplishing this result, thev inner edges of the cover plate are bent as at 38 to provide shoulders fashioned to have a snap engagement'with the resilient fingers 39'struck out from the annular piloJ 31. Thus, from the foregoing, it will be observed that the hub cap 35 has a snap engagement withV the inner edge of the cover plate, and, furthermore, cooperates with the latter to conceal the means for attaching the cover plate to the vehicle wheel; It will further be observed that with the foregoing construction, the cover plate may be removed if desired and a hub cap mounted within the wheel to provide the usual type of construction.A l

` The modification illustrated in Figure 3 differs from either of the foregoing constructions in the particular shape ofthe cover plate and in the point of engagement of the periphery of the plate with the drop center rim. As will be observed from Figure 3, the manner in which the cover plate is secured to the hub shell and the manner in which the same cooperates with the hub cap 4I to conceal the fastening means is the same as previously described in connection with the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2. In the present instance, however, the peripheral portions of the cover plate 40 are bent outwardly at substantially right angles to the major p0rtion of the cover plate to provide an annular flange 42 forming a seat for the resilient ring 43. The free edge of the flange 42 is curved upwardly amasar and cooperates with suitable 'retainers 44 in the same manner as previously described to secure the resilient ring 43 to the'cover plate. The foregoing construction is such as to provide for engaging `the resilient ring 43 with the drop center rirn attire through the iront side of the rim well beyond lthe cover plate.

In the event it is desired to expose the front tire retaining flange on the rim, the construction illustrated in Figure ki` may be resorted to wherein the resilient ring 45 at the periphery of the cover plate 46 engages the frontside of the drop center rim at the juncture of the Vtire retaining flanges I3 and` the legs of'the channel-shaped base of the rim.' The inner edge portions of the 'cover plate are positioned in"L advance of the hub shell nose so as to impart the` desired conical effect to the wheel 'and are fashioned for snap engagement with the hub cap 4l." T he manner in which the aforesaid inner'portions of thecover plate are detachably secured to `thehub shell and the corr-` struction thereof which permits the same to secure the hub cap in place is substantially the sameV v as set forth in connection with the embodiment of the invention described in connection -with i'igureZ;V y l l, n

The construction illustrated in Figure 5 differs from the embodiment ofthe invention shown in Figure 4 in the specific construction` of the mounting ring50. As shown in Figure 5, the mounting ring 50, in additionto serving as attaching meansfor the cover plate 5|, also functions to reinforcethe central portions of the latter. In detail, the peripheral portions 52 of the mounting ring 50 embrace Ythe innersurface of the cover plate, while the inner portions 53 thereof 'are spaced axially inwardly from the adjacent portion of the cover plate and are connected to the peripheral portions aforesaid of the latter by means of a substantially axially extending annu-` lar portion 54. The4 radial portions 53 of the mounting ring 50 maybe secured to the hub` shell nose in the same manner as the ring 30, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 2 is secured to the shell, and the axially ex- 1 tendingannular portions 54 of the ring 50 cooperate with the portions 53 to reinforce the central portions of the cover plate from the shell. Additional reinforcing of the cover plate may be se-l cured if desiredby pressing portions of the same outwardly as indicated in Figure-5 to form ribs The modification illustrated in Figure differs from the embodiments of theinvention previously described in the particular mannerin which the inner edgenportions'of the cover plate are secured to the noseof the hub'shell. The cover plate illustrated in Figure 6 is designated by the reference character 60 and is secured to thewhcel under compression by means of the hub cap 0I for the shell. In detail, a resilient ring 62 formed of rubber or other suitable material is interposed between the front side of the nose of the shell andthe adjacent side of the inner edge portions of the cover plate `and is secured under compression against the hub shell nose by clamping the pe- Y engagement with the hub shell nose and to maintain `the peripheral portions 63 of thecapl in engagement with the cover plate under tensionduring use.` The periphery of the cover plate `60 `is Engage.

provided with a resilient'ring 66 fashioned for engagement with thefro'nt side of the tire carrying rim in the same manner as pointed out inconnection with several of the previously described embodiments of the invention. 'Ihe foregoing construction renders it possible to provideasimple, inexpensivecover plate construction capable ofbeing readily assembled with andireineved from the vehicle wheel. r

Figure '7 of the drawings also features an extremely simple and inexpensivefcover plate Iii distinguished from" the foregoing construction in that the usual lresilient ring at theperiphery of the aforesaid cover plates is omitted'and'a resilient flange 1l substituted therefor.` In detail, the

periphery ,of the ooverplate lll isbent laterally outwardly to provide an annular flange 1 fhaving a cross sectional contour determined in accord- 1 ance with the portion of the front side of the tire carrying rim with `which the same is adaptedto In the presentv instance, the resilient flange 'H engages the front -side of the tire carrying rim at the juncture between the baseof the channel and the front legportionof the latter as clearly shown in Figure 7. The central portion of the cover` plate Hlis apertured in alignment with the aperture in the hub shell nose forreceiving a hub cap `|2` and the inner edge portions of `the cover plate are clamped to the front` side of the hub shell nose by means of the peripheral portions 13 of the cap. If desired, a suitable `no`nmetallic ring 13 may also be interposed'` between 1 the hub shell nose and` adjacent portions of the coverplate for insulating the same from metallic contact with each other. The hubr capI 12 may be of the snap-on type and is providedwith an o annular pilot 13 having spring fingers 14, similar in construction to the fingers Vset forthfinthe preceding embodiment of the invention, for yield- `ably urging the peripheral portions T3 of'tliehub cap into engagement'with the cover plateil. While the rubber ring featured in the .foregoing modifications of the invention is omitted in the presentinstance, nevertheless,` it is to jbe` noted i that the flange 1I is resilient and theconstruction is such as toprovide for securing the cover pl'ate i between the shell and rim under compression.`

In Figure 8 of the drawings, I have illustrated a cover plate fashioned for application to a vehicle wheel wherein the hub `capis adapted to i be assembled with the shell by arotative movement thereof relative to the shell. As shown in Figure 8, the central portionof the cover `plate 8O is provided with an opening therethrough in alignment'with the opening in the hub shell nose,

and the inner edge portions of both the hub shell nose and cover plate are formed with aligned slots 8| therethrough for receiving suitable lcarnportions 82 fixed to and extending rearwardly from the hub' cap `83. The cam portions 82 are arcuate in cross section and function upon rotation of the cap`83 relative to thehub `shell nose to cam the peripheral portions `84 ofthe cap intoengagement with the front side of the cover plate for clamping the lattervto' the hub shell nose. If desired, an annular non-metallic washer 85 may be in terposed between the hub shellnose and adjacent portions of the cover plate so as to eliminate any tendency for squeak's to develop in this portion of the wheel during use. The periphery of the cover plate 80 is provided with a rubber ring 86 for engaging the front side ofthe rim member'in the saine manner as brought out in any of the foregoing embodiments of the inventionillustrating rubber ring members."

The modificaties ofthefmventin luustrated inY Figures 9 and' 10i vdiffers essentially fromj the foregoing embodiments ofthe invention inl Athe manner inwhich4 the peripheral'fportions -of the i l cover plate aresecured to the `frontsidev ofthe tire carrying rim ",rnember; As shown inFigures 9 and 10, the compressionsealbetween the periphery of` the cover and adjacent surface ofthe yrirn member in the present instance isv accomplished bya plurality'of resilient inserts 90 equally spaced'around the lperiphery'oi` the cover plate.

In detail, the periphery `ofthe cover plate is`pro` vided with circumferentially spaced flanges 9| adapted to be clinched over `the end portions of the `resilient inserts for retaining the latter in place.f As shown particularly inv Figure9,

portions of the"in`serts, the `latter portions are compressed relative to the central portion thereof. Compressing the end portions of the resilient inserts obviously serves to'l extrude rthe central i portion thereof beyond the isaid `end portions'and thereby Vprovides for engaging `the central portion with the front side of the "tire carrying rirn member in the mannerillustratedi in Figure 9.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that while each of the embodimentsof theinvention differ structurally `from each other,` nevertheless,

' all` of the various modifications are extremely simple in construction and arecapableV of being inexpensively manufactured. It will also be obwill further be apparent'thatin each embodiment of the invention, the cover plates are secured under compression between the hub shell and rim so as toprovide for obtaining maximum rigidity. Inaddition to theforegoing, it is to be noted that each of [thecoverA plates`illust`rated `herein are secured in place -in suena manner that there will be no tendency for crackduring use;

thesarne to buckle` or While several `embodiments ofthe invention havebeen shownanddescribed herein somewhat intdetail, it is to be understoodthat no attempt vhas been madeto illustrateall of the ,modifications ofthe invention, and, accordingly, reservai tion is madev to make suchchanges as may come Within the purview of the accompanying claims. WhatI claim as `my invention is: 1 l. A vehicle `wheel having in comlrnation,` a rim member, a hub member concentrically arrangedl'with respect to the rim member and connected thereto, a centrally ,apertured` cover plate having ithe peripheral portion thereof engaging the front side of the rim member and having the portion i adjacent the aperturc therethrough vspaced in advance of `the"forward end' of the hub,

attaching `meansfixed `to the rear side of the coverplate including an oeleinenthaving a por-` 1- tion positioned adjacent the front side of Ythe hub memberfand having a plurality of openings through the latter portionarranged in alignment i with openingsthroughfthecover plate, and fastening means insertable through `the op nings in c the cover plate and engageable with the lement 20 when the flanges `9i: 'are clinched over ther end Y n tion positioned adjacent the `front sideof the t and hub member for clamping the former to the latter.l n Y 2. A vehicle wheel having in combination, a

'rim member, a hub 'member concentrically arhub member and having a plurality of openings through the latter y portion arranged in alignmentwith openings,y through the `cover. plate, fastening means insertable through the openings in the cover plate and engageable with the elementand hub member for clamping vthe former Y to the latter, and a closure for the central opening through the cover plate having portions overlapping the openings aforesaidrthroughthe cover plate at the front side of the latter for concealing these openings and the-fastening means for the cover plate.,A K

3. A` vehicle wheel rim member, Va hub shell connected to the rim member and having 'an inwardly extending iiange .l at the front end thereof, a cover plate for the vwheel concealing the connectiongbetween the rim member and hub `shell and having anr opening therethrough at they center thereof, means for .attaching the cover plate to the wheel with the peripheral portion of the latter engaging the rim memberand with Vthe opening therethrough opposite the front end ofthe shell, said means includingan attachingA element carried by the cover plate in rear of the portion of the latter surrounding the opening therethrough and having flexible portions engagingy the `front side of the flange aforesaid on the hub shell, and means inertable through an opening vin a portion of the cover platev in advance of ysaid element for detachably clamping the latter to the hub shell. 4. A vehicle wheel having in combination, a

[rim member, a hub shell concentricallyarranged with respect to the rim member and having an inwardly extending flangeat the front end thereof, a centrally apertured cover plate having the peripheral portion thereof engagingthe front side of therim member and having the portion surrounding the opening ltherethrough Vspaced in advance of" the Viiangeaforesaid on the hub shell,

- aclosure for the opening'through the cover plate havinga snapengagement with the'edges cf thegopening, and meansconcealed by the cover plate vandvolosure for detachably securing said l plate to the inwardly extending ange on the hub shell.

5. A cover plate for vehicle wheels having a hub Ymember provided with an inwardly extending flange at the frontend thereof, comprising a central portion having `an opening therethrough adapted to register with the hubmember, an element carried by the coverplate and spaced axially rearwardly from the marginal portion of the central opening through the cover plate for engage- Vment with the inwardly extending flange at-the f front end of the `hub,` said element having an opening therethrough registering with an opening in said flange for receiving a fastener element and -the marginal portion of the cover plate in advance of saidelement Yhaving an openingA therethrough of sufficient,r dimension to provide for the insertion of the fastener element therethrough.

having incombination, a`

6. A cover for vehicle wheels having a. rim

. member and a hub` member, comprising a peripheral-portion positioned `opposite the rim member and a centra-l portion positioned opposite thehub member, an element carried by the cover plate 5 at the l-iear side thereof .and having a portieri` spaced axially, rearwardlyfrom a portion of the cover plate opposite the hub member, saldelement having an' opening therethrough.A for receiving a fastener element and the cover platelo having an opening therethrough in alignment in advanceof the forward end ofthe hub, attaching means fixed to the rear side of the cover plate including an Aelement having a portion-positioned-A adjacent the front side of the hub memberand vvhaving a plurality of openings through the-latter portion` arranged in alignment with openings through the cover plate, fastening means insertablethrough the openings in the cover plate and` engageable with thc elementond hub member for clamping the former to the latter and a closure for the opening through the cover plate having a portion fashioned to snap into engagement with the vinner edge vofthe opening through the coverplate and having another portion overlapping the openings aforesaidthrough the cover plate at the front side of `the latter `for concealing saidopenings and the fastening means for securing thecover plate to the hub member.

8. In a vehicle .wheelyhaving a. hub member, a cover plate for the front side of the wheel having va 'centrallydisposed opening therethrough and having axiallyspaced radially extending portions 40 surrounding the opening, fastener elements extending through openingsy in the rear radially (xtending portion andv engageable with the hub A member to securel the cover` plate in assembled relation with the wheel, the front radlallyfextending portion of the cover. plate having openings therethrough aligned with the openings in the rear portion aforesaid vand ybeing `of sunicient diameter to permit `the passage of `the fastener elements' therethrough, and a removable closure 50 for the central opening through the cover plate` havinga peripheral portion engaging the front portion of the cover plate radially outwardly beyond the openings therethrough to conceal both the openings and the fasteneri elements. l 9v. In a vehicle wheel` having a hub member, a l

coverplate forthe front side of the wheel having a `centrally disposed opening therethrough and .having axially spaced substantiallytradially ex- .,surefor the central opening in the cover plate having Va portion fashioned to snap'lnto engagement with the edge of one of the portions aforesaid on. the cover yplate and having a radially'extending portion engaging the front portion of the cover plate beyond the openingstherethroughto conceal thelatter as well as Ythe fastener elements.

CHARLES W. SINCLAIR. 

